Ensure The Health Of Your Potted Houseplants With One Simple Rule Before Winter

When many outdoor plants and trees are dormant, houseplants are a great way to continue to enjoy greenery and lush foliage. While houseplants generally continue to flourish through winter months, they often require slightly different care than in the summer. Stopping your regular fertilizing schedule is one major way your houseplant care should change during late fall and winter.

While fertilizing is an important part of care for indoor plants (since it supplies the necessary nutrients), that doesn't mean it's the right thing to do year-round. Even though your houseplants may still look perky and green in December or January, they're likely not in their active growing period, thanks to the cooler temperatures and lower light conditions. It's important to avoid fertilizing during this time because it could force your houseplants to put on new growth even though there would likely not be enough light to support that. Even if you have houseplants that you can grow without a ton of natural light, it's better to let them enjoy their rest during the winter.

Houseplants are generally in their active growing period from March through October, so you can follow your usual fertilizing schedule during these months. Once every one to three months is common, but be sure to check the label on your specific brand of fertilizer for indoor plants. It's important to avoid overfertilizing, though, even during the summer months. Hold off on restarting this schedule in the spring if you took advantage of the dormancy period to repot your plant. Houseplants that have just been repotted generally don't need additional nutrients for at least a few weeks.

There are a few exceptions to the rule of avoiding winter fertilizing. One is if you live in an especially mild climate. If your temperature and light levels are not significantly lower during winter, you can continue fertilizing your houseplants that still show signs of new growth. There are also a few specific plants that benefit from occasional fertilizer during the winter months. While monsteras and pothos need less, you may still want to provide them with extra nutrients. You should plan to do this about half as often as you do during the summer.